Dorothy

Dom and I will always be grateful that we knew Dorothy had Down syndrome before she was born. It meant that by the time she made her dramatic entrance we had processed her diagnosis and were prepared and ready to meet our extra special little girl.

We found out at 16 weeks that Dotty had a 1 in 7 chance of her having Down syndrome which was confirmed at 24 weeks from an amnio due to complications in the pregnancy. We were shocked, it’s never what you expect to hear, but we knew this was our baby, our child and nothing would change that. Despite fetal hydrops during pregnancy and being born premature at 33 weeks, she beat all expectations and was home from NICU within 3 weeks and has just celebrated her 1st birthday.

It has been a joy to watch her grow and see her personality come out. She continues to grow and develop and achieve. She has overcome so many hurdles in her short life and I know she will smash every obstacle in her way. I look at her and my heart bursts, I can't bare to think about what we would have missed out on if we had not taken up that fight with her. She has more than earned her place in this world. She is the light of our lives, a blessing who brings joy where ever she goes. She has an army of followers this girl: #teamDotty! She is strong, feisty, determined, stubborn, curious, beautiful, willful, cuddly, smiley, cheeky and OURS. And yes, she has Down syndrome, which can bring with it it's problems, but it is also a part of what makes our Dotty who she is and we wouldn't have her any other way. She is exactly as she was always meant to be.

To new or expectant parents; congratulations! You’re about to embark on a wonderful journey.